bestof.me - Summary--This Tender Land--A Novel by William Kent Krueger--Discussion Prompts

Summary on William Kent Kruegers

This Tender Land

A Novel

Discussion Prompts

By bestof.books

P lease Note: The book you are about to enjoy is an analytical review meant for educational and entertainment purposes as an unofficial companion. If you have not yet read the original work, please do before purchasing this copy.

Copyright 2020 by bestof.books. All Rights Reserved.

First Published in the U.S.A.

Disclaimer & Terms of Use: No part of this publication may be reproduced or retransmitted, electronic or mechanical, without the written permission of the publisher. The information in this book is meant for educational and entertainment purposes only and the publisher and author make no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of these contents and disclaim all warranties such as warranties of fitness for a particular purpose. Product names, logos, brands, and other trademarks featured or referred to within this publication are the property of their respective trademark holders and are not affiliated with this publication. This is an unofficial summary and analytical review meant for educational and entertainment purposes only and has not been authorized, approved, licensed, or endorsed by the original book's author or publisher and any of their licensees or affiliates.

Foreword

H ave you ever wanted to improve your understanding of This Tender Land: A Novel by William Kent Krueger? Or perhaps you are simply struggling to learn the subject matter?

Its a simple teaching technique that helps students learn and readers to grow. With versatile discussion questions for each major criteria regarding This Tender Land: A Novel by William Kent Krueger, these discussion prompts are designed to help surface crucial discussions that are capable to assist toward thinking and learning on a deeper level.

Discussion prompts have a positive effect on learning. From simple quizzes to critical thinking, participation in discussions can have significantly higher learning when used first. Its a simple technique that goes a long way.

Gain the Help You Need As You:

Analyze with over 60 + prompts

Reflect on how the book has made an impact

Relate to the author and the books message

Question prompts to make the discussion uniquely yours

Tips on Using Discussion Prompts:

Readers and students are recommended to write 100-word responses to the prompts. Written answers could be shared in small group discussions.

Each question can be allotted five minutes to write answers as a way of reviewing notes before shared in small group discussions.

Use the questions as a template to provide peer feedback and think of your own questions to develop during the discussions to spur creative thinking

Whether youre an avid learner set out to reach the best for yourself, or a student struggling to learn the subject matter, these discussion prompts can get you to actively respond as you question, analyze, relate, and reflect.

bestof.books

Chapter One: Introducing This Tender Land

W illiam Kent Krueger 's latest book, This Tender Land, is a companion book to his previous stand-alone novel entitled Ordinary Grace. The tale is narrated by Odysseus O'Banion, one of the four protagonists of the story who is commonly referred to as Odie and starts as the reminiscence of an old Odie reflecting on the events back in 1932 during the Great Depression. He shares the journey undertaken by four orphans, who escaped from Lincoln Indian Training School, a learning institution in Minnesota for Native American children who were forcefully separated from their parents. The school is a former military outpost known as Fort Sibley.

Odie and his older brother, Albert, whose parents are already dead, dont have any family or friends who would look after them. Thus, they are sent to Lincoln by the sheriff because the state orphanage is full and doesn't have room for any more kids. As the school is originally for Native Americans, they become the only white kids at the institution. Odie, a mischievous boy who is always up to something, loves music and storytelling, while Albert, who is older than Odie by four years, is Odie's closest friend and confidante. Albert is also a good mechanic and is intelligent enough to get his younger brother out of most of the troubles he finds himself in. The brothers befriend two other orphans named Mose and Emmy. Mose is a mute Sioux Indian boy whom the O'Banion brothers teach sign languagea skill they learned to communicate with their deaf mother. Emmy is the six-year-old daughter of one of the schoolteachers, Mrs. Frank who is a kind-hearted lady.

The school, a torturous place for the kids, is operated by Mr. and Mrs. Brickmanthe husband could be a bit lenient at times, but the wife is always strict and rigid about rules. Mrs. Thelma Brickman, the school superintendent, is known for her severe corporal punishments as a way of training and disciplining the children under her care. The story starts with Odie and Albert getting punished for disrespecting her. She puts both of them in the quiet room, a near prison cell with no illumination, and furnished with nothing but stone-cold floors to teach them a lesson. The O'Banions have spent nearly four years in the school, and the scared and upset Odie slowly transforms into a rebellious boy. The only silver lining in their dire situation is the presence of Mrs. Frank who teaches cooking, cleaning, and sewing to the children. There is also the German immigrant named Herman Volz, who teaches carpentry and tries to make the kids comfortable in whatever way he can.

The punishments are vetted out by a teacher named Vincent DiMarco, who menacingly enjoys whipping and beating the children. After so many years of abuse, DiMarco finally dies at the hands of one of his students. At the same time, tired of the needless violence, the O'Banions, along with Mose and Emmy, flee from the school but the administrators send the police after them. After escaping, the children are unsure of where to go and what to do. Nevertheless, they undertake a journey across the Gilead River in a canoe in search of their own place in the world.